WORKIN' ON SHOWIN' TALENT

March 02, 2004 11:00 pm

Travis Alcorn, under hat, is flanked by a pair of dancers during his comedy routine. (ANDREA BARKAN).

Pilot story

and photos by

Andrea Barkan

A barbershop quartet, a rock band, an interpretive dancer and a martial artist were among the performers to take the stage Thursday night during Brookings-Harbor High School's seventh annual talent show.

Debra Hirjak-Hunt's soulful performance of her original song, "Workin'," earned her the winner's title and first-place prize of $50.

Hirjak-Hunt said she wrote the song, which was a throwback to bygone slave spirituals, in honor of Black History Month and to honor her friends the Grundys.

The Village Idiots, a barbershop "quintet" that quickly and comically became a quartet, took home second place and $25.

Quinn Troendle  the fifth would-be idiot  was shimmied off stage by his band mates after a few failed attempts at harmonizing proved too much of an auditory assault.

Travis Alcorn stole a lot of laughs and the third-place prize of $15 for his wacky dance.

A giant top hat covered Alcorn's head and shoulders. A painted face adorned his bare stomach and two staggered pairs of pants rounded out the optical illusion that made him look like a giant, clothed thumb.

Alcorn's fast, fancy footwork led him all over the stage to the delight of his audience.

During the band Civilian's performance, Jake Brattain illicited cheers for his guitar solo. Civilian members also include Warren Geraghty, Andrew Rosenburg and Chris Seamons.